Assistant line coach to join USC staff

Lane Kiffin’s firing left an open spot on the coaching roster, and interim Coach Ed Orgeron plans to hire 72-year-old Pete Jenkins as an assistant defensive line coach.

Orgeron said Jenkins, a line coach for 45 years, has been a mentor through him throughout his career. Orgeron remains USC’s line coach, but doesn’t want the unit to get ignored as he tends to the entire team.

``Pete was planning to come here as a consultant before (Kiffin’s firing) happened,’’ Orgeron said. ``After about a week of being the the head coach, the D-line coach, the recruiting coordinator and the guy in charge of discipline, I felt that I could use a hand.

Orgeron previously offered the spot to former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, who would have been an offensive consultant. Jenkins, who attended practice Friday, retired in 2009 after three years as line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins last coached college football in 2002, with LSU. He has also had stints with Troy State, North Alabama, South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn. Jenkins was also LSU’s defensive coordinator in the mid-1980s.

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